Curry County Community Report, 2010

Demographics

In 2010, there were 31,391 licensed drivers in Curry County. Of these, there were 15,816 females and 15,575 males. The population of Curry County was 48,949. The total number of crashes in 2010 was 1,095, yielding a crash rate of 22 per thousand people (total number of crashes 1,095 divided by total population 48,949 times 1,000). The corresponding rate for the state was 21 per thousand people.

General Crash Information

From 2001 to 2010 the number of crashes has shown no trend. Fatal and injury crashes have also shown no trend from 2001 to 2010. Belt usage (as a percentage) involving Visible injuries has decreased since last year, while belt usage involving Incapacitating injuries has also decreased. Belt usage (as a percentage) involving Fatalities has increased since last year.

Alcohol-related Crash Information

Information about alcohol-involved crashes is included in all sections of this report. Of the 190 people convicted of DWI in Curry County, 57 percent were first-time DWI convictions (number of first convictions 109 divided by the total number of people convicted 190 times 100).

Crash Specifics

Crashes involving Other vehicles were the most common class, accounting for 67 percent of all crashes. Crashes involving Other non-collisions, Fixed objects, Pedestrians and Other vehicles resulted in fatalities. Passenger cars were the vehicle type most often involved in crashes, accounting for 49 percent of all vehicles in crashes. Pickups accounted for 25 percent of vehicles involved in crashes. Together these two vehicle types comprised 74 percent of the vehicles involved in injury crashes. The four most common top contributing factors were Failing to yield, Following too close, Other and Driver inattention. There were seven fatal crashes in 2010. The top contributing factors for the fatal crashes were Excessive speed and Red light running.

People in Crashes

Overall, males were 52 percent of drivers in crashes and 81 percent of drivers in alcohol-involved crashes. They account for 50 percent of licensed drivers in Curry County. Nine pedestrians were involved in crashes in 2010. In 2010, no "Teenagers" or Young Adults were killed in crashes in Curry County. Statewide 11 percent of alcohol-involved drivers were under 21; in Curry County 16 percent (7 of 43) were under 21.

Location of arrest/conviction was determined by police agency/court location, not driver residence.

Crashes and drivers were counted by the city of occurrence/residence.

Population was counted according to the Census definition.
The county population data is from the most current 2010 census counts.

Young adults are people between the ages of 20 and 24.

"Teenagers" are people between the ages of 15 and 19.

Tables only include variable values for which there are data. (e.g. male and female driver counts do not
always add up to the total number of licensed drivers because the gender of some drivers is not reported)